Ignition system.



vternal combustion engine.

RICHARD VARLEY, OF ENGLEWOOD, NEW JERSEY.

IGNITION SYSTEM.

Application filed June 16, 1916.

'10 an whom it may concern: I

Be it known that I, RICHARD VAR'LEY, a citizen of the United States of America, re-

siding-at Englewood, in the county of Bergen and State of New Jersey, have invented new and useful Improvements in Ignition.

Systems, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form part of this specification. v

This invention relates to electrical systems and has particular reference to such systems as are employed to ignite the combustible charges in the cylinders of an in- Such ignition systems usually employ a magneto or alternating current generatonfor energizing the spark plugs of the engine during normal operation of the engine and a separate battery or spark coil system for use during starting of the engine or when the magneto is not producing effective sparking current, each of which is provided with a make and break contact or interrupter mechanism.

It has been proposed to dispense with this extra spark coil and its contact mechanism by providing means for connecting the magneto primary winding and its interrupter contact mechanism in circuit with the source of direct current, 2'. e., the battery, so as to cause the magneto to deliver a spark from the battery energy for starting of the engine, or at times when the magneto is not being d iven at a speed productive of eifective sparking current. But such an arrangement has been found objectionable for the reason that it is desirable that the battery current passing to the magneto shall be commutated to prevent bucking of the flux of the mag neto. Furthermore, the primary winding of the magneto is peculiarly adapted to the mechanical and magnetic requirements of the machine and unsuitable for connection with an extraneous source of current, 2'. 6., battery, so that even when, through employment of sliding contacts and complicated mechanism, the battery current is commutated to the magneto, there still exist many difficulties by reason of the particular characteristics of the magneto, which prevent complete attainment of the end sought to be accomplished.

By my invention, I provide a system in. which the magneto energizes a winding of such character asto permit of said winding being connected in energizing circuit with Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented J ime 19, 191's.

Serial No. 103,965.

a source of continuous or battery current so as to obtain effectiv'e' battery sparks. in an arrangement employing a single interrupter, without the necessity of commutation of the battery current, the employment of complicated apparatus or interference with or from the magneto electric machine, as will be hereinafter more fnlly described.

I will now describe my invention so that others skilled in the art to which it appertains may understand and construct the same, it being premised, however, that changes may be made in the arrangements shown and described without departing from my invention.

Flgure 1 IS a diagrammatic view of an ignition system embodying my invention, and

Fig. 2 is a similar view showing a. modified form of circuit arrangement to be hereinafter more fully described.

Referring to Fig. 1, the numeral 2 indicates a magnetic core of a transformer 23, having a primary winding 4 which may be connected by means of switch mechanism 5 with a magneto electric machine 6 or a source of continuous current or a battery 7 The winding 4 of the transformer is grounded, as at 8; the energizing winding of the magneto is grounded, as at 9 and the battery 7 is grounded, as at 10. In circuit with the battery 7 is a vibrator or trembler mechanism 11.

Also grounded, as at 8, and arranged on a l'eg of the core of the transformer 3 is a secondary winding 12 the live end of which leads to the contaetor arm 13 of the distributer mechanism 14, the contact segments 15 of which lead to spark plugs in the cylinders of the engine (not shown).

In addition to the above named windings a controlling winding 16 is arranged on the transformer core 2 and has in its circuit interrupter mechanism 17 geared to be driven by the engine: in synchronism therewith and to interrupt the circuit of the winding 16 at periods of time at or near the peak of the current wave of the alternating current delivered from magneto (ii -IVhen the contacts 18 and 19 of this interrupter 17 are closed the circuit is short circuited or closed through grounds 8 and 20.

When the hand switch 5 connects through switch button 5 the magneto 6 to the trans former, the winding 3 will be connected in energizing circuit with the magneto through grounds 8 and 9. As a result, generative driving of the magnetoG sets up an alternating magnetic flux in the core 2 of the I thus causing the flux to take a leakage path,

but when the interrupter 17 is open, z. e., when the contacts 18 and 19 are separated, the magnetic flux immediately takes the nor? mal magneticpath provided by the core. This violent change in flux travel induces a high potential current in the secondary winding 12, which causes the formationof an ignition spark at'the plug connected in the circuit of the distributer arm 13 engaging a respective contact segment 15, as will be clearly understood.

When it is desired to run on battery igni tion during starting of the engine or at any other time, movement of hand switch 5 to button or contact 5 will disconnect the magneto and connect the battery and its trembler mechanism 11 into circuit with the winding 3, so that when the interrupter mechanism 17 opens, the resultant flux action set up in the transformer core by the trembled current passing through the winding twill induce in the secondary winding 12 a high potential sparking current for the purpose above set forth.

The'arrangement shown in Fig. 2 in which like reference numerals indicate like parts, is such that the battery 7 ma be connected through switch arm 5' by t e double arm switch 5 in circuit with the winding 16 through grounds 8 and 10. When the interrupter contacts 18 and 19 are closed the battery is normally short circuited through grounds 10 and 20, but when the interrupter is opened at the period of time properly re lated to the desired period of spark forma} tion by reason of the synchronous operation of the interrupter, as will be understood, current flows from the battery through the trembler or vibrator 11 and the winding 16, thus setting up inductive energizing of the secondary winding 12 and a spark plug of the engine connected thereto by the respective distributer se ent 15. 1

When the doub e arm switch 5 is shifted to bring the switch arm 5 into engagement with Contact button 5, switch arm 5 will be i brought out of engagement with contact button 5i", breaking the battery connection, and driving of the magnetofi will energize the primary winding 4 in the manner already described in connection withFig. 1, for induct-ion of a sparking current in the second ary winding 12, all as in the manner described in connection with Fig. 1.

The interrupter contacts 18 and 19 have connected across them the usual condenser 21. The advantages of my invention willbe primary winding, a secondary winding inuctively' related to the primary Winding, a source of continuous current, means for connecting the primary winding in circuit with either the generative winding or the source of continuous current, andmeans, includin a single interrupter, for controlling induct1ve relationship between the primary and secondary windings.

2. In an ignition system, a magneto electric machine having generative winding, a primary winding, a secondary winding inductively related to the primary winding, a source of continuous current, vibrator mechanism connected in circuit therewith, means for connecting the primary winding in circuit with either the generative winding or the sourceof continuous current and vibrator-mechanism, and means, including a -single interrupter, for controlling induct1ve relationship between the primary and secondary windings.

3. In an ignition system, a magneto elec- I ing means including a primary winding and a single interrupter, a source of continuous current, and means for connecting either the generative winding or the source of continuous. current in circuit with the primary winding.

4. In an ignition system, a magneto electric machine having generativewinding, a primary winding, a: secondary winding inductively related to the primary winding, a source of continuous current, means for connecting the primary winding in circuit with either the generative winding or the source of continuous current, and means, including a circuit and a single interrupter, for con trolling inductive relationship between the primary and secondary windings.

5. In an ignition system, a magneto electric machine having generative winding, a transformer forming part of spark produc ing means including a primarywinding and a single interrupter, a source of continuous current, vibrator mechanism, and means for connecting either the generative windin or the source of continuous current and vi rator mechanism in circuit with the primary winding.

6.- In an ignition system, a source of alternating current comprising a magneto electric machine having generative winding, a or for connecting the source of continuous source of continuous current, spark produccurrent in the sald circuit, and a single in- 10 ing means including a transformer having a terrupter for operatively controlling the primary winding, a seconclarywinding 111- transformer with respect to the said sources ductively related to the primary Winding, a of energy.

circuit controlling said inductive relation- In testimony whereof, I have hereunto I ship, means for connecting the generative set my hand. winding in circuit with the primary Winding RICHARD VARLEY.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

' Washington, I). C. 

